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NORTH KOREA

North Korea today is the last of its kind: an isolated country that has cut itself off almost completely from the outside world, earning the nickname Hermit Kingdom from the media. Because of this decades-long seclusion, North Korea is the ultimate remote land: a fascinating, eerie destination that serves as a window into a 1950s Stalinist nation – a place where time has seemingly stood still.

Drive down deserted, grand boulevards and pass imposing, towering monuments of cherished leaders. Attend the surreal Mass Games, where 100,000 dancers, singers, and athletes perform in perfect unison. Visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where two of modern history’s most controversial and polarizing political figures lie in state.

Contrary to the isolated nature of their foreign policy, tourism opportunities within North Korea are actually growing. There is an expanding list of destinations outside of the capital Pyongyang where visitors can go to observe life in urban and rural areas. Hamhung, the second most populated city in the country, was opened for visitors in 2010. The drive from Pyongyang to Hamhung provides a surprisingly beautiful tour of the country’s lush, green mountains and rolling valleys dotted with small farming villages. Pyongsong, an industrial and mining city, was just opened to visitors in 2013.

Remote Lands facilitates trips to North Korea not as an endorsement of the controversial governance and international policy, but as a means of promoting an open and objective perspective on a much dramatized and often misunderstood nation of 25 million people.

North Korea luxury travel with Remote Lands is first and foremost personalized. We create extraordinary one-off experiences catering to your individual interests. For the perfect luxury introduction to North Korea, see our Classic North Korea itinerary; for more adventurous ideas, visit our North Korea Suggested Itineraries page. Then contact us today to begin planning your luxury North Korea vacation!

Meet An Asia Expert

From Our Blog

Our co-founder & CEO Catherine Heald found North Korea "mindblowing" - she was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful landscapes and welcoming, friendly people.

Koryo Hotel

This large hotel in the center of Pyongyang is easily identified by its two soaring towers connected by an impressive atrium. The Koryo is ideally located within walking distance from the Tower of the Juche Idea and just across the river from Kim Il Sung Square. The rooms, though perhaps a little dated, are clean and well-equipped with soft beds and flat-screen HDTVs with Western news channels, while the bathrooms have hot running water, clean towels and toiletries. The hotel provides everything its guests could want, including a swimming pool with massage center, a well-stocked bookstore and a souvenir shop, which sells everything from stamps to fruit and even traditional Korean dresses. Guests will be kept entertained in any of the four bars on-site, which include a karaoke bar and, on the ground floor, a microbrewery; all the shops, bars and restaurants accept foreign Euros and US Dollars. Perhaps the highlight of this hotel is the revolving restaurant on the top floor of one of its towers, from which visitors can enjoy traditional Korean cuisine, accompanied by stunning views of the great city.

Yanggakdo International Hotel

Opened in 1995 and the second-tallest building in North Korea, the Yanggakdo is currently Pyongyang's only luxury hotel and one of the city's most noticeable landmarks. The hotel has over 1000 rooms as well as a panoramic revolving restaurant on its 47th floor. There are also 4 other restaurants serving Korean, Chinese & Japanese cuisine. Facilities include bowling alley, a pool room, a swimming pool, a barber shop, a casino and a massage club, and the hotel is adjacent to the Pyongyang International Cinema Hall.

The very best times to visit North Korea can be broken down into two distinct periods. The first comes in the strong between is mid-April, May and early June; and then September and October in the Autumn. The summers are hot and humid. The winters are traditionally known to be cold –sometimes bitterly cold. Both North and South Korea feature very short Springs and short Autumns. August and September are good times to visit North Korea if you wish to attend the Mass Games. The biggest festival in Korea comes in September: the “Harvest Moon” in which Koreans return to their hometowns and visit their ancestor’s graves. It is known as Chuseok. The summers can be rainy and these rains are supposed to help the crops in the fall.